Want Google Maps in dark mode? On a desktop or laptop, open Google Maps in your browser and use the Night Eye browser extension to apply a dark appearance. On iPhone, iPad and Android, the Google Maps app has its own built-in dark-theme settings. Browser Maps and the mobile app use different controls.
How to enable Google Maps dark mode on any device
| Device | How to turn on dark mode |
|---|---|
| On desktop (Windows or Mac) | Night Eye: Install it for Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari; open Google Maps; refresh the tab if needed; set Night Eye to Dark. Google Maps on the web does not provide the same native dark-theme setting as the mobile apps. |
| On iPhone / iPad (iOS) | Google Maps app → profile picture → Settings → App & display → Dark mode → On. Or select Same as device setting. |
| On Android | Google Maps app → profile picture → Settings → App and display → Theme → Always in dark theme → Save. Available on Android 10 or later; you can also select Same as device theme. |
The mobile paths above apply to browsing and exploring the map. Turn-by-turn navigation has a separate color-scheme setting, explained below.
How to enable Google Maps dark mode on desktop (PC or Mac)
- Install Night Eye from your browser’s official extension store using the links beside these steps. Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox and Safari are supported.
- Open google.com/maps in your browser. If Maps was already open before installation, refresh the page.
- Open Night Eye from the toolbar or Extensions menu. Pin its icon for easier access. In Safari on Mac, first enable Night Eye in Safari → Settings → Extensions and allow website access.
- Select Dark mode for Google Maps if it is not already active. If Night Eye shows Normal or Filtered, change it to Dark.
- Check the map itself: look at the base map, roads and labels as well as the search panel. Some map layers and media can look different or remain unchanged, as explained below.
You can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation for Google Maps without applying the same settings to every website. For a quick return to the standard Google Maps appearance, select Normal in Night Eye.
Install Night Eye for your browser
Choose your browser’s official store:
Try Pro free for 3 months with no credit card required. After the trial, you can continue with Night Eye Lite for free on 5 websites in one browser, or choose a paid plan. Compare plans.
Table of contents
- How to enable Google Maps dark mode on any device
- How to enable Google Maps dark mode on desktop (PC or Mac)
- Does Night Eye darken the actual Google Maps map?
- How to turn on Google Maps dark mode on iPhone and iPad
- How to turn on Google Maps dark mode on Android
- How to enable dark mode during Google Maps navigation
- Google Maps stays light on desktop: fixes and how to turn dark mode off
- Google Maps dark mode missing or not working on iPhone or Android
- When is Google Maps dark mode useful?
- More dark-mode guides
- Get dark mode for Google Maps and other websites
Does Night Eye darken the actual Google Maps map?
It can darken the map canvas, not just the sidebar. The existing screenshots on this page show roads, place labels and the underlying road map against a dark background. One screenshot also shows a dark results sidebar, while another shows a dark map beside a light search panel. These are historical examples, not a live test of the latest Google Maps interface, so results can vary with Google Maps updates and the active layer.
What changes and what may stay the same
| Map element | What to expect and check |
|---|---|
| Road map, roads and labels | The preserved examples show the road-map canvas, roads and location labels in a darker style. Check readability at your usual zoom levels. |
| Search panels and place details | Interface conversion can vary. A panel may remain light even when the map is dark; compare the preserved examples and adjust your site settings if needed. |
| Traffic colors and routes | Do not assume the red, orange, green or route-overlay colors will be unchanged or equally legible. Toggle the traffic layer and check its legend; use Normal mode if the visual distinction is unclear. |
| Satellite view | Satellite imagery is photographic content rather than the standard illustrated map. A dark surrounding interface does not guarantee that the underlying imagery becomes dark. |
| Street View | Street View panoramas are photos. Night Eye should not be treated as a way to turn daytime photography into nighttime imagery; surrounding controls may change separately. |
How to check your own browser: Switch between the default map, Traffic, Satellite and Street View after enabling Night Eye. Inspect labels, traffic indicators and search panels in each view. If important details lose contrast, try Night Eye’s contrast/brightness settings or switch that view back to Normal. The result may differ after Google Maps or browser updates.
How to turn on Google Maps dark mode on iPhone and iPad
The Google Maps iOS app has native dark mode; you do not need a browser extension to change the app’s appearance.
- Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your profile picture or initial and go to Settings → App & display → Dark mode.
- Choose On for a permanently dark map while exploring, Off for light mode, or Same as device setting to follow the iOS appearance setting.
The setting above controls exploration in the app. Active navigation is configured separately. See the navigation section below. Source: Google Maps Help for iPhone and iPad.
How to turn on Google Maps dark mode on Android
Google Maps has a built-in dark theme for Android 10 and later. You can choose a permanently dark map or match your phone’s theme.
- Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile picture or initial.
- Go to Settings → App and display → Theme.
- Choose Always in dark theme, then tap Save. Alternatively choose Always in light theme or Same as device theme.
Original Android screenshots: These images illustrate the interface from an earlier app version; the current menu includes the additional App and display step.
How to enable dark mode during Google Maps navigation
Browsing and turn-by-turn navigation have separate settings on both mobile platforms. A dark map while searching for a place does not necessarily mean active navigation will stay dark.
On iPhone or iPad
- In Google Maps, open Profile → Settings → Navigation.
- Scroll to Map display → Color scheme.
- Select Night for dark navigation, Day for light navigation, or Automatic to follow the selected iOS system appearance.
On Android 10 or later
- In Google Maps, open Profile → Settings → Navigation.
- Under Map display → Color scheme, choose Night, Day or Automatic.
- Automatic follows the Android system theme in Settings → Display, as described in Google’s current help instructions.
Night keeps navigation dark independently of the system appearance, whereas Day keeps it light. These controls do not change the desktop browser version. See Google’s iPhone/iPad instructions and Android instructions.
Google Maps stays light on desktop: fixes and how to turn dark mode off
- Refresh the Google Maps tab if Night Eye was installed after Maps was already open.
- Check Night Eye’s mode. Select Dark, not Normal (original view) or Filtered (adjustments without full dark conversion).
- Check website access. In your browser’s extensions settings, enable Night Eye for www.google.com (which hosts Maps) and grant the required site permissions. In Safari, check Safari → Settings → Extensions and website access.
- Check site lists and plan limits. Ensure Google Maps is permitted in Night Eye’s allow/disallow settings. Lite can cover 5 chosen websites; replace a slot if all are in use.
- Test extension conflicts. Temporarily disable other dark-mode, color-inversion or appearance extensions and refresh Maps.
- Check the affected layer. If the map, labels or search panels look inconsistent, adjust contrast/brightness and test the default map separately from Satellite, Traffic and Street View.
To restore the original Google Maps colors: open Night Eye on the Maps tab and select Normal. You can also exclude Google Maps in the extension’s website controls without uninstalling Night Eye. If problems persist, use Night Eye’s built-in support.
Google Maps dark mode missing or not working on iPhone or Android
If the browsing map is dark but navigation is light: change the separate Settings → Navigation → Map display → Color scheme setting to Night. If the theme switches back to light, check whether you chose an option that follows the device theme.
If the dark-mode setting is missing: check for Google Maps app updates. On Android, the documented browsing and navigation dark-theme controls require Android 10 or later. On either platform, look under the current App & display (iOS) or App and display (Android) submenu instead of following older screenshots.
If the app does not apply the chosen theme: fully close and reopen Google Maps, confirm the selected theme and check the device appearance setting if using Same as device. You usually do not need to reinstall the app. Google’s iOS and Android help pages contain the latest official paths.
When is Google Maps dark mode useful?
Dark mode is a display preference that can make bright map screens feel more comfortable in low-light environments. It is not a treatment for eye conditions and does not eliminate the effects of blue light or prevent health problems. In strong daylight, a light map may be easier to read; choose whichever theme makes roads, street names and navigation prompts clearest on your screen.
Battery savings depend on display technology, brightness and use. For mapping or driving decisions, always prioritize readable roads and traffic information over the appearance of the interface.
Get dark mode for Google Maps and other websites
Night Eye adds a customizable dark appearance to Google Maps in supported desktop browsers and other websites without a built-in dark theme. Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, dimming and warmth, set per-site rules or schedules, and restore a site instantly with Normal mode. Website color conversion happens locally on your device; Night Eye does not collect browsing history.
New users can try Pro for 3 months for free, with no credit card required. You can then keep Night Eye Lite free on up to 5 websites in one browser or select a paid plan. See the current plans.
Install Night Eye dark mode extension
